The first ever quiz show aimed at pre-school children is to be launched by the BBC's CBeebies digital channel.

Kerwhizz, which is billed as a "breakthrough multi-platform entertainment format", will be aimed at four- to six-year-olds and will also include an online version and podcast.

The programme will feature three teams of computer-generated characters who compete to answer questions that will give them add-ons, or "pod mods", for their high-tech racing machines, which can help them win a race against their opponents.

Both the show and online game are set to debut later this year on CBeebies.

Kerwhizz races can take place in any of 26 different CGI worlds, which reflect a range of environments from the astrological to the historical.

The BBC said viewers at home would be "drawn into the action at every step of the game, answering questions, making predictions about the race and advising contestants when to use their 'pod mods'".

CBeebies controller Michael Carrington said young children would be able to enjoy the quiz alongside their parents.

"Children love quizzes but there hasn't ever been a television quiz for viewers of this age," he added.

"Kerwhizz is tremendous fun, looks absolutely amazing and children and grown-ups will be able to enjoy the game and the podcasts any time they like."

The BBC said Kerwhizz would be "visually stunning and packed with gags" and had been designed with the assistance of teachers and a specialist adviser.

An online game will also reflect the show, with specially created races for users to play with and a brand new set of questions, while a related podcast will be available to download from the CBeebies website.

A run of 26 episodes, each lasting 22 minutes, has been ordered from the in-house CBeebies Productions, with British animation company Blue Zoo working on the combination of live action and CGI elements.

Kerwhizz will be executive produced by Alison Stewart with Stephen Cannon as producer.

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